Georgia's 15th annual job fair to be televised

The live broadcast, entitled Job Fair 2009 - Preparing For Recovery, will originate from Atlanta, Albany, and Macon. The broadcast will be simulcast over WALB-TV Channel 10 in Albany and WMAZ-TV Channel 13 in Macon.

"Job Fair 2009 will offer viewers throughout the state an excellent opportunity to better understand the employment services available through the Georgia Department of Labor to help them survive the current recession," said State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond.

"Job Fair 2009 continues our efforts to lay the foundation for Georgia's economic recovery. We are especially pleased that for the first time, our broadcast will feature a large career expo and job fair in Macon."

The Macon-Middle Georgia Career Expo and Job Fair, co-sponsored by the labor department and WMAZ-TV, will be featured throughout the statewide broadcast. The Expo and Job fair will be held from 1-5 p.m. at the Macon Centreplex.

"People are looking for solutions in today's economy and we need to do everything possible to help Central Georgians find available resources," said Jeff Dudley, president and general manager for WMAZ-TV. "We are excited to work with the Georgia Department of Labor on this important project."

Job Fair 2009 will provide extensive information about community resources available to assist the thousands of workers who've lost jobs from layoffs and business closings, as well as the labor department's role in helping them find new jobs and careers.

Jim Wilcox, vice president and general manager of Albany's WALB-TV, said: "Part of our WALB service area includes the ninth poorest congressional district in the country and we continue to experience significant layoffs. Improved job training opportunities, education, and the creation of good paying jobs are absolute necessities. We are thankful to be a partner in the Department of Labor's televised job fair for the fifth straight year."

Teya Ryan, GPB president and executive director, said, "Every corner of Georgia has been affected by the employment challenges this year, so we are proud once again to partner with the Department of Labor for our television, radio and web communities. Our mission is to produce programs that educate and inform and we're confident that Job Fair 2009 will provide Georgians with valuable tools to succeed in this challenging economic climate."

The GDOL will have 160 experts available to answer questions from viewers across the state who may wish to call in during the job fair. Viewers may also ask questions and receive immediate answers via the Internet. Job Fair 2009 will be Webcast, which will allow people to watch via the Internet. To watch the Web cast, or ask questions, visit the labor department's Web site at www.dol.state.ga.us.

Job Fair 2009 will be hosted from Atlanta by Carla Heath-Sands of WALB-TV, from Albany by Dawn Hobby and Ben Roberts of WALB-TV, and from Macon by Frank Malloy and Lorra Lynch of WMAZ-TV. Other celebrities scheduled to participate in the job fair are Rhubarb Jones, a popular Atlanta radio personality and member of the Country Music Disc Jockeys Hall of Fame; Rickey Bevington, GPB Radio; Stephanie Susskind, Leah Johnson, and Carly Flynn Morgan of WMAZ-TV.

Two days prior to Job Fair 2009, on Friday, May 15, from 3-4 p.m., Commissioner Thurmond and staff from the labor department will participate in Jobs in Georgia: A Special Call-in over GPB Radio and simulcast over WCLK-FM 91.9 in Atlanta. The program will be hosted by GPB Radio's Rickey Bevington. Listeners will be able to call during the program to ask about the current state of the job market and the wide variety of career resources provided by the labor department.

The toll-free telephone number for listeners to call during the program is 1-866-RADIOGA (1-866-723-4642). A taped re-play of the program will be rebroadcast Sunday, June 22, at 10 a.m. on GPB Radio.

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